Evaluation of lipid markers in surfactant obtained from asthmatic horses exposed to hay.

The research article explores the alterations in the lipid composition of surfactant in horses suffering from asthma at different stages of disease, compared to healthy horses exposed to the same conditions. The novel findings include the identification of cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) and diacylglycerol (DAG) as potential biomarkers of inflammation in asthmatic horses.

Objective and Sample

• The study aimed to understand the changes in lipidomic profiles of surfactant extracted from horses with varying degrees of asthma and compare them to those of healthy horses under similar conditions.
• The surfactant samples were obtained from six horses with severe asthma and seven healthy horses.

Procedures

• The researchers performed clinical evaluations on the horses and analyzed the surfactant samples.
• Surfactant samples were taken from both asthmatic and healthy horses at three distinct times: prior to exposure to hay (baseline), during exposure to hay, and post-exposure.
• The surfactant samples were prepared by drying them before dissolving in a mixture of isopropanol, methanol, and chloroform.
• A mass spectrometry technique referred to as ‘shotgun lipidomics’ was used to analyze the lipid content in the surfactant.
• The collected data was statistically analyzed using ANOVA and a Tukey-Kramer post hoc test.

Results

• The lipidomic analysis aimed at distinguishing significant differences between the groups of horses and their exposure conditions.
• The analysis found elevated levels of cPA and DAG in the surfactant of the asthmatic horses during hay exposure, compared to baseline and post-hay exposure.
• The levels of cPA and DAG in the healthy horses remained unchanged, regardless of their exposure status.

Conclusions

• Two novel lipid mediators, cPA 16:0 and DAG 36:2, were identified in surfactant from asthmatic horses. These molecules may serve as potential biomarkers for sustained inflammation.
• Further research is needed to ascertain any correlation between the presence of these molecules and the severity of asthma in horses, along with any potential changes in the plasma lipidomic profile.